Dear Mom, Pa, Grandma, Aunt Anna, Bob, Ann & Ele Letter No. 151

Oct. 24, 1944
Tues.
#151
Somewhere in England

Dear Mom, Pa, Grandma, Aunt Anna, Bob, Ann & Ele,

It's just about a week since I last wrote, but a cold (which is just about gone) and a few other circumstances made it a bit difficult for me to write but now I guess I will be able to write more regular.
I'll include Grandma & Aunt Anna in a few more letters until I catch up with my mail.  OK?  So when your through with it ma, let Grandma & Aunt Anna read it.
I got quite a bit to write but I don't know where to begin.  I think I'll just write them as they come into my mind.  O.K.
Coming across on the boat, after I wrote you on the boat, we got Red Cross kits with toilet articles, cards, games & books, so for the rest of the trip that was our pastime.  We also got paid on the boat ($9.50) but I got a stroke of luck and won a few dollars playing bingo with the boys.  At the end of the trip I was ahead about $50.  Believe me it was just a pastime.  A few of the boys in the Co. who played craps won about $1,000.  That's hard to believe but it's true.  I got a money order made and am sending it home.  Please give Boby $10 of it.  O.K.  And take out what you need ma.  
I still didn't receive any letters from you ma but I will probably get some in short order as the mail over here is far from being straightened out.  I just got a few letters from Helen & one from Sonny.  Helen's letters are really swell swell.  Yes ma she's the girl for me.  She sent me some pictures she took while she was in Chicago and they came out swell.  I'll enclose one and then you can send it back.  O.K.  She said she promised her mother she was going to stay home this vacation (I remember her saying something about it one time but I wasn't sure) So I wrote and told her she was welcome at any time, so maybe it will be next May or June.  How is that Ma?  I guess you both got it figured out already but you could mention in your letter ma that she is welcome at any time O.K.?
I have a few points of interest which I'm sure you all will enjoy.  First, I believe I said I would tell you about the English money.  It will probably be a bit confusing at first as I did but it works out pretty good.  I'll give the name of the coin & then the approximate value in American money.  d=penny  s=shilling  £=pound.
Copper Coins
1/2d (half penny) = 1 cent in American money
1d (penny) = 2 cents
3d (three pence or thrupence) = 5 cents
Silver Coins
6d (six pence) = 10 cents
1s (shilling or bob) = 20 cents
2s (Florin) = 40 cents
2s+6d (Half Crown) = 50 cents
5s (Crown) = $1.00
Paper Currency
10s (10 shilling note) = $2.00
£1 (pound note) = $4.00
£5 (5 pound note) = $20.00

Do you all understand it.  It may be confusing if your having the money but I'm sure it will be interesting.  A few little oddities which you'll find interesting I'm sure.
England is a small country, smaller than N. Carolina or Iowa.  London has a population of 12 million people 1/4 of the total of the British Isles.  I guess that's why it's Germany's target.  The people in England drive on the left side of the road & the steering wheel is on the right side.  Just the opposite from ours.  I thought some of the things in our country was old but when I was on pass I saw a church over a 1000 years old.  That's twice as old as anything in the U.S.  At anyplace in England a person can't be over a 100 miles from a sea.  Do you all like these little oddities?  I'll try to pick up a few more and write them in my next letter.
How do you all feel?  I pray that you all are in the best of health and very happy.  And remember there is nothing to worry about.  Just promise me you won't worry and I'll be real happy.  Tell Grandma I pray every night no matter where I may be.  So until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy

Tony

P.S.  Boby your pen writes real well.  I hope you are making out just as well with mine.

P.S.2  I forgot to tell you that Sonny was made First Lieutenant (I just can't picture him to be a lieutenant, the only way I think of him is a jitterbug and us going to school together).  Things really do change don't they?  He has 21 missions to his credit and had a few narrow escapes over the Ploesti Oil Fields.  Please say a few prayers for him that he will be protected at all times.  O.K. Thanks.

P.S.3  How is our little puppy?  Has he got a new sweater?

P.S.4  Max hurt his toe kicking the mud off his shoe.  So now he has to sit around a couple days.

 
     

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 106

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. "A" A.S.T.U. 3920
U. of O. Eugene ORE

1/10/44
Letter No. 106
Rec'd 160, 161, 161

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I had another successful weekend. They had a formal dance in the gym (MacArthur Court) and I took Tiny and we had a swell time. She wore a rose colored formal this time. I think the looks good in just about everything she wears. Everything went swell during the evening but just before the night was over we had a little accident. We were walking home and we just got up to the sorority house when Tiny slipped on a piece of ice. (It frosts pretty easy around here there is so much humidity in the air). And she hurt her backside. All day Sunday she was limping around but it's getting better. As long as it isn't serious.
Sunday morning we went to church. In the afternoon we went to Gerlinger Hall and she played for me again.
I got a letter from Sonny (Fio) and he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. Boy was I happy to [hear] that. He won't get his wings until he completes his flying hours but he's got his rating. It certainly made me feel happy.
I also received a letter from Frank and he said he received my V. letter on Christmas Day. I was glad to hear that. Everything seems to be going all right with him.
I was inducted into the army a year ago yesterday. Gosh it seems like ages.
I got pretty good marks in my tests in the first marking period. I got 80 in math, 84 in chem., 90 in physics, B in Geog., 90 in hist. and the rest I didn't find out yet.
I certainly got a laugh when you explain how you tried to give the dog a pill. Gosh it was funny.
I got a letter from Elfrieda today. She doesn't say too much as she is busy getting ready to move when her husband goes into service.
I got two letters from Sister. I am glad everybody liked all their presents so much. It really made me feel good.
I don't think I mentioned it but I got the card from Mrs. Hall telling me she was going to make the Novena for me. I want you to thank her ever so much.
I am glad Grandma is better only she shouldn't work so hard. You are right. She should take a rest until she is stronger. Send Grandma my love & kisses.
So you all had snow in N.Y. huh! We still didn't get any here. I am in the best of health and hope you all are also. Until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 67

P.F.C. Anthony J. Curcio
Co. "A" STAR Unit 3902
U. of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

Date 8/5/43
Letter No. 67
Rec'd ----

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is now about 9:30 PM Thursday nite and I want to get a letter off before lights out at 10:30.
Today we started our refresher course and just now my head is going round & round. I'll have to do plenty of studying & I do mean studying. Our first class this morning was a study period, next we went to physics, then math & then chemistry. Being that this is a refresher course they just start from the beginning & shoot thru the book and then plenty of work to do trying to keep up with them. After those periods we had chow & then back to a class called military correspondence. After that we have calisthenics & close order drill for two hours. That brings us up to 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Then we take a shower, rush into town for a few min. to pick up some pictures (we had duplicates made) then we rush back to chow. After that we go to a study hall from 7:30 to 9 o'clock where we do our homework. I just got out of study hall now & that brings me up to where I started this letter. I am sorry if it's written in a hurry, because I want to get as much written as possible tonite.
Yesterday we had [it] pretty easy because we were waiting to be assigned to classes & didn't have anything to do so I washed some clothes & ironed my shirt & then did some studying.
Last nite we had a little rain storm & it thundered. It started just as I went to bed about 10:30. It was the first time it rained since I'm here.
Boy it's swell to sleep here. It's nice & cool at nite & a nice cool breeze blows thru the room & you just fall asleep. I think it's the most comfortable I slept in the army.
I don't know whether I told you or not but I got a letter from Sonny & he is making out as an aviation cadet. He passed all his tests. He is at Helena, Ark. He sends his best regards.
I also received two letters from Anita Becker, the girls I started to tell you about in the other letter. Ma she seems like an awful swell girl. She's getting her picture made for me & she is getting my picture made from the studio I got the pictures made for you. She makes me feel swell. I really miss her. It's too bad I couldn't see her a little more. Well that's the way things go & I guess the war won't last forever, especially the way our boys are cleaning up on the other side.
I am in the best of health hope you are all in the best of health. And Ma how are you feeling? I hope I receive a letter from you tomorrow. I am just dying to get some word from home. Until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 20

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio Date 2-21-43
Flight A-31-T.S.S. U.S. Army Letter No. 20
Jefferson Barracks, MO. Rec'd 23-24-25-26

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It's Sunday night & I'm trying to catch up on my mail. I'm writing all night.
I felt very happy that I was able to hear your voices over the phone. Can you imagine over 1,000 miles away. I feel happy & yet sorry I couldn't say more than we did. I got the message to call N.Y. about 1:30 & tore out of the orderly room & ran all the way to the phone booths. When I got there there were about 5 fellows ahead of me all making long distance phone calls so I just had to wait. I had to call up twice before they put me thru to New York. The lines were very busy. Before calling I wanted to say so much & then the only words that came out were How are you Barb, how are you ma, how are you Ann.
But I guess you can't say much more. I did want to ask you ma, whether my letters were all right, & whether my letters make you happy (I mean do I say everything right in my letters) and abundance of other questions. But I said How are you & you said you were swell so that made up for all the questions I could possibly ask. Just now the church bells are ringing & the organ is playing over the P.A. system & a lump came to my throat. It makes me feel like being home so much.
Fri. I had regular drill & went to bed early at night.
Sat. we moved as I told you over the phone, to a new section. We had to take all our things. We straightened up all day. All the fellows were separated but we still see each other.
After chow we got a call for a convoy. Anybody who wanted to go could go. So I went because my friend went even though I was a bit tired. They piled us in 3 trucks & took us 20 miles outside of camp to Middletown H.S. to a dance. We had a very nice time. I was introduced to one girl which was very nice. (I stayed with her all night because she was a swell girl (you could see that by the way she talked) & she was intelligent & could dance very well). It seems I just know a good girl when I see one. Just like Elfrieda. We got sandwiches & coca cola for refreshments. Wasn't that nice. At 12 o'clock we all had to leave the building & pile into the trucks & they took us back. Sunday morning I tried to go to church but missed it all around.
In the afternoon I got your precious call & here I am writing letters in the night.
I received a letter from Sonny today. He is going in to the army next month. He sends his regards.
I received your package today and we certainly surprised to get it & it certainly is a mystery.
In your letter you say you sent the package. I got it this morning the same time as the letter. I had thrown the paper away already so I ran out & got the paper to see when it was postmarked for curiosity's sake. Well there were the stamps & no post mark on it at all. So whatever happened I don't know but I'm sending you the stamps to put on the next package. It was certainly a surprise to receive it. That map is swell. I took the red pencil (It was certainly swell to include the table) and plotted the route of the trip here. I will keep it up. I think I will be shipped as there are 10,000 cadets coming to this camp & I think they have to make room. That's why we had to move to this flight. We have 10 in a hut instead of 8 now. We sure are crowded. But why squawk.
Oh I forgot. Thanks for the socks, wrist broom, handkerchiefs, shaving cream (I just ran out of the others, how did you know I ran out, telepathy again I guess) & of course the milky ways & cigarettes. The next package you can send me some tobacco. Thank you for the package it reallly was a thrill.
I always want you to tell me about the little things. I completely understand what you mean.
We use the both kind of socks ma. I need both, you aks me which I liek best in your 25th letter. I like both too.
Oh Yes this morning we took pictures but I won't be able to get them developed because they take 3 weeks here. They have to pass the censor. So I'll have to wait 'til I get to a permanent camp.
I hear from Ele about 2 times a week.
I sure will be waiting for those cookies Ann. I hope you get the time real soon. You really don't know how much I enjoy them.
I am including the poem I promised you ma. Copy it & Send it back. O.K. It's just for you Ma.
So I'll close now hoping I can write very soon - until then

Reporting - Signing Off
Your Loving Soldier Boy
Tony

P.S. Thanks for calling, so much I can't express.